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Abstract: Papers of Robert W. Waterman, governor of California, 1887-1891, his wife Jane, and their six children. Included are letters,
diaries, legal and financial records, account books, speeches and clippings. Some papers relate to his governorship and to
politics. Letters written by him in the 1850s cover his journey to California and experiences in the mines. The bulk of the
papers, however, relate to the family's business interests--mines, railroads, ranch and dairy, and cattle breeding.

Languages Represented:
English

Information for Researchers

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts
must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft
Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which
must also be obtained by the reader.

Photographs transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (

Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1905.94221-.04377--PIC

and

Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1905.04563-.04569--PIC

)

Drawings transferred and shelved as

Identifier/Call Number: BANC PIC 1953.010--AX

Biography

Robert Whitney Waterman was born in Herkimer County, New York, December 15, 1826. In 1839 he moved to Illinois and worked
as a clerk in a general store. By 1847, the year of his marriage to Jane Gardner, he owned his own store at Belvidere.

On March 20, 1850, Waterman started overland for California. He bought passage on a wagon train at St. Louis, left St. Joseph
on May 8, and reached Sacramento on September 7. His mining activities were confined to Butte County -Stringtown, Wild Yankee
Ranch and Bidwell Bar. In addition to mining, he and several Illinois friends kept a boarding house on the North Fork of the
Feather River. In the fall of 1851, he returned to Illinois.

Shortly after his return, Waterman moved to Wilmington, where he opened a general store. He remained there until the spring
of 1873, when he went again to California for his health and to locate a home for his family. For a time he traveled along
the coast as an agricultural machinery salesman for Baker & Hamilton, and in September he went east to bring his family to
California. In August 1874, they settled near San Bernardino on a ranch which Waterman purchased. He continued in the employ
of Baker & Hamilton (until about 1877) while developing his ranch, Waterman's Hot Springs.

From 1880 to 1886, Waterman and his mining partner, John L. Porter, discovered and developed a number of gold and silver mines
near Barstow, including the Alpha, Omega, Front, and Silver Glance mines.

In 1886 Waterman took possession of the Stonewall Mine, San Diego County, and a large portion of the Cuyamaca Rancho on which
it was located. In the same year he established a dairy on his ranch near San Bernardino and began breeding holstein cattle.
He was also elected president of the San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railway Company.

The Republican Party in 1886 nominated Waterman for Lieutenant Governor of California; he was one of the few Republicans who
won office that year. On the death of Governor Washington Bartlett in September 1887, Waterman became governor and served
the remainder of the term.

Refusing the nomination for a second term, Waterman moved to San Diego and returned to his mining, railroad and other interests.
He died on April 12, 1891.

Several of Waterman's children were active in the family business, particularly while Waterman was governor. Mary Pamelia
(Waterman) Rice managed the ranch and dairy at San Bernardino from 1886 to about 1892. Waldo Sprague Waterman, who was graduated
from the University of California in 1886 with a degree in mining engineering, served as superintendent of the Stonewall Mine
from 1886, and from 1890 was general manager of the San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern Railway Company.

Two of the children took up medical careers. James Sears Waterman, who first managed his father's mines near Barstow from
1881 to 1886, then studied medicine in New York and became a noted physician and surgeon. Helen Jane Waterman became a physician
and practiced for many years in Berkeley and San Francisco.

Scope and Content

The Waterman papers were preserved by Irving Murray Scott, Jr., Robert W. Waterman's son-in-law, and were given to The Bancroft
Library by Mr. Scott's nephew, C. Emlen Scott in 1952 with additions in 1953 and 1955. Some of the papers relate to Waterman's
governorship, but the bulk of the material concerns the family and business interests. Early letters from Waterman to his
family describe his overland journey to California and experiences in the Northern Mines. There are also letters from miner
friends written to Waterman after his return to Illinois.

A key to arrangement follows.

Key to Arrangement

Papers of Robert Whitney Waterman

Boxes 1-15

Letters written to Waterman, 1839-1891

Additional Note

Arranged alphabetically by name of person or organization. A single letter miscellany precedes each letter of the alphabet.
Many letters relate only to family activities, others to family business interests, including mines in San Bernardino and
San Diego Counties, the Waterman Ranch and Holstein Dairy, and Railroads --particularly the San Diego, Cuyamaca and Eastern
Railway Company. Some letters relate to Waterman's political career. Unidentified letters are in a folder at the end. A partial
list of correspondents follows the key to arrangement.

Box 1

A Misc. - Bh

Box 2

Bi - Brown, Ebenezer G.

Box 3

Brown, John - Coq

Box 4

Cor - G Misc.

Box 5

Ga - Hoo

Box 6

Hop - Lim

Box 7

Lin - Mh

Box 8

Mi - Poo

Box 9

Por - S Misc.

Box 10

Sa - Sg

Box 11

Sh - V

Box 12

W Misc. - Waterman, Helen J.

Box 13

Waterman, James S. - Waterman, Theodore F.

Box 14

Waterman, Waldo S.

Box 15

Waterman, Waldo S. - Z

Boxes 16-17

Letters written by Waterman, 1848-1891

Additional Note

Mainly originals addressed to members of his family. Arranged chronologically. Letters dated 1850-1852 were written on the
journey to California and from the northern mines. Some relate to business and politics; many are partially or entirely concerned
with family activities.

Box 16

1848 -1887

Box 17

1888 -1891

Box 17

Papers relating to his term as governor

Additional Note

Included are oath of office, speeches, proclamations, and items relating to legislative bills.

Personalia

Additional Note

Includes biographies, letters of introduction and recommendation, passes (Civil War), and demits.

Miscellany

Additional Note

Includes illustrated price list of wagons sold by Waterman.

Ctn. 1

Diaries, 1869-1890

Additional Note

Contain information on his move to California in 1873, travels as machinery salesman for Baker & Hamilton, Waterman's Hot
Springs near San Bernardino, prospecting trips, mines, law suits, railroads, and political activities.

There are no volumes for 1870 through 1873, and 1889. Diary entries for 1865 through 1869 are in Account Book, v. 7; diary
entries for 1872-1873 are in Account Book, v. 4.

Guest Book, Waterman's Hot Springs, San Bernardino, Calif., 1875-1880

Account Books, 1852-1891

Additional Note

Accounts from 1852 to 1873 are for Waterman's store in Illinois. Accounts from 1873 relate mainly to mining operations.

Arranged alphabetically, with three folders of miscellaneous letters at the beginning. A partial list of correspondents follows
the key to arrangement.

Ctn. 2

Letters to Mrs. Waterman: Misc. - Waterman, James S.

Ctn. 3

Letters to Mrs. Waterman: Waterman, Waldo S. - Z

Ctn. 3

Letters written by Mrs. Waterman, 1847-1904

Additional Note

Originals, written to members of the family. Arranged chronologically.

Diaries, 1880, 1885, 1887, 1888

Miscellany

Papers of Mary Pamelia (Waterman) Rice [Mrs. Hyland Washington Rice]

carton Ctns. 3-5

Letters written to her

Additional Note

Arranged alphabetically, with eight folders of miscellaneous letters at the beginning of the file. Many letters relate to
family business including the ranch and dairy near San Bernardino. A partial list of correspondents follows the key to arrangement.

Ctn. 3

Letters to Mary P. Rice: Misc.

Ctn. 4

Letters to Mary P. Rice: A - Waterman, James S.

Ctn. 5

Letters to Mary P. Rice: Waterman, Jane G - Z

Ctn. 5

Letters written by her

Miscellany

Papers of Hyland Washington Rice

Ctn. 5

Letters written to him

Letters written by him

Scrapbook, Autograph Book, Account Books and Diaries

Miscellany

Letters written to Hyland Charles Rice (son of Mary P. W. Rice)

Letters written to Robert Waterman Rice (son of Mary P. W. Rice)

oversize Oversize folder 1

National Guard of California. H. W. Rice. Commission as major and assistant adjutant general. February 12, 1880.

National Guard of California. H. W. Rice. Commission of captain. February 28, 1882.

National Guard of California. H. W. Rice. Commission of first lieutenant. January 10, 1880.

M. D. Degree. 1870.

Papers of James Sears Waterman [son]

Ctn. 5

Letters written to him

Letters written by him

Diaries and Accounts

Miscellany

Papers of Waldo Sprague Waterman [son]

Ctn. 6

Letters written to him

Additional Note

Arranged alphabetically with one folder of miscellaneous letters preceding the file. A partial list of correspondents follows
the key to arrangement.

Letters written by him

Additional Note

Miscellaneous letters are in one folder. A letterpress copy book contains business letters for 1892 and 1893.

Miscellany

Papers of Helen Jane Waterman [daughter]

Ctn. 6-7

Letters written to her

Additional Note

Arranged alphabetically, with five folders of miscellaneous letters at the beginning. A partial list of correspondents follows
the key to arrangement.

Ctn. 6

Letters to Helen J. Waterman: Misc. - Waterman, Jane G.

Ctn. 7

Letters to Helen J. Waterman: Waterman, Waldo S. - Z

Letters written by her

Miscellany

Additional Note

Mainly pamphlets relating to medicine, social hygiene, and political issues including woman suffrage, prohibition, and white
slavery.

Letters written neither to nor by members of the Waterman family. Included are letters written to Francis A. Park, John L.
Porter and Henry M. Willis; letter written by John F. Miller, and letterpress copybook for the firms of Puterbaugh, Leovy
& Humes, and Leovy & Humes.

Ctn. 9

Miscellany

Additional Note

Includes reports, drawings, assay reports and other items relating to mining and railroads. A separate folder contains a recipe
book, ore sample and unidentified photographs.

Legal records

Additional Note

Included are deeds, leases, abstracts of title, agreements to sell, contracts, land patents, mortgages, mining claims, etc.
Separated into 3 groups: Miscellaneous business and family, Mining and Railroad.

carton Ctns. 10-11

Financial records

Additional Note

Included are invoices, property tax and other receipts, cancelled promissory notes, trial balance sheets, cancelled checks,
etc. Most of the items are household accounts and are arranged chronologically by year. These are followed by records for
the Waterman Ranch and Holstein Dairy and by cancelled checks, some of which are for mining and railroad expenses.

carton Ctns. 12-13

Invitations, Announcements, Programs, etc.

Ctn. 14

Newspaper clippings

Additional Note

Include obituaries for R. W. Waterman, articles concerning members of the Waterman family, politics, etc.

Partial List of Correspondents

A - Miscellany

Adams, Frederick

Letter, May 13, 18[90?]

American White Bronze Co.

Letter, Aug. 1, 1887

Anthony, Charles Elam, 1843-

Letter, July 14, 1889

Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company, Boston

Letter, Jan. 17, 1882, signed by J. A. Williamson, Land Commissioner.

Alberti, Clark, 1850?-

23 letters, 1887-1891

carton (Carton 4)

186 letters to Mary P. W. Rice, 1887-1892

Alden, Philander M.

19 letters, 1883-1886. Mainly written as executor of the estate of James Sears Waterman, the governor's brother.

Hambly, Harry Bishop, 1862-1937
see The History Company, San Francisco

Hammond, Richard Pindell, Jr., 1859-

7 letters, 1888-1890. Letter of Feb. 7, 1890 includes letter to Waterman from Hervey Lindley, written as U.S. Surveyor General and Golden Gate Park
Commissioner.

Hancock, George Wisner, 1836-

3 letters, 1888-1890

Harrison, Benjamin, 1833-1901

3 letters, 1888

Hayes, George R. B., 1847-1896

4 letters, 1888-1890

Haymond, Creed, 1836-1893

10 letters, 1887-1889

Heald, F. H., 1854-

3 letters, 1890

Hearst, George, 1820-1891
see U.S. Congress. Senate

Hendricks, T. P.
See California. State Normal School, Chico

Hendricks, William C., 1824-1892
see California. Secretary of State

History Company, San Francisco

21 letters, 1887-1890. Two letters signed by H. H. Bancroft; others signed mainly by H. B. Hambly and E. W. Fowler. Enclosures to letter of July
22, 1889 include promotional material for Bancroft's history of California.

Hoitt, Ira G., 1833-1905
see California. Department of Public Instruction

Holden, Edward Singleton, 1846-1914
see Lick Observatory

Holder, Charles Frederick, 1851-1915
see
Los Angeles Tribune

Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841-

2 letters, 1888

Holt, L. M., 1840-

10 letters, 1888-1890

Houghton, Eliza Poor (Donner), 1843-1922 (Mrs. Sherman Otis Houghton)

carton (Carton 4)

3 letters to Mary P. W. Rice, 1890-1892

Houghton, James Franklin, 1827-1903

7 letters, 1888-1889

Houghton, Sherman Otis, 1828-1914

31 letters, 1882-1890. Several are signed Houghton, Silent & Campbell.

House, Radcliffe F., 1849-

3 letters, 1887-1890

Howard, Bryant, 1835-

5 letters, 1889-1890

carton (Carton 2)

Letter to Jane G. Waterman, June 1, 1892

Hubbell, O. S., 1859-

7 letters, 1887-1890

Humbert, Pierre A., 1853-

11 letters, 1888-1889, written as chief engineer, Folson Water Power Co.

Humes, Charles Floyd
see Leovy & Humes

Humphrey, Lyman Underwood, 1844-1915
see Kansas. Governor

Hunt, Aaron B., 1837-

4 letters, 1887-1888

Hutchinson, J. S.
see Sather Banking Company

I - Miscellany

Isaacs, Bernhard

Letter, Aug. 30, 1890

Illinois. Governor

3 letters, 1861-1862. Letter of Nov. 13, 1861 signed by Richard Yates, others signed for him.

508 letters, 1874-1891. Letters from July through December 1886 mainly concern Waterman's San Bernardino County mines. Letters from 1887 written as
superintendent of the Stonewall Mine and from October 1890 also as general manager, San Diego, Cuyamaca & Eastern Railway
Company.